He leaned over to look under the bed, and his right foot slipped, sending him falling. He hit the floor, his face striking the wooden boards, then his eyes closed and he fell into oblivion.
Chapter 4
Back to the Skies
C atacombs, Torduan Mountains, Khatanax – 18th Tuminch 5252
The wind rushed through Sable’s hair as Sanguino swept round in a tight curve. Below them, the valley where the Catacombs was located was glowing red from the lava pits, while, to the east, the sun was rising over the horizon. Despite her exhilaration, Sable was concentrating hard, keeping her vision connection to the dark red dragon intact. She could feel his thoughts within her mind as she provided him with sight, complete with battle-vision. His left eye had healed to the extent that he had reasonable clarity on that side, but his right eye would never see again.
She gripped onto the leather handle attached to the harness as Sanguino banked to the left. A belt was strapped round her waist, and her booted feet were tucked into stirrups on either side of the saddle. The new harness had been finished by Millen just a few days previously, and it was working well, doing its job of keeping Sable secure on the dragon’s wide shoulders.
As well as his thoughts, Sable could also sense Sanguino’s emotions as he circled above the valley; he was happy, and it made her happy to know that. Each of them had been maimed and wounded, and together they had overcome every obstacle in their way, and this flight was their long-awaited reward.
‘Look at the sunrise,’ he called out to her; ‘it is the first I have seen in a long time, and it is all the more beautiful because of that. How I have dreamed of this day, my precious rider. I despaired at times, I confess, but your spirit bore me through all trials. You knew this day would arrive; you knew in your heart that we would fly together, and so it has come to pass. The air is beneath my wings again, and the stars above us are shining with a splendour I had almost forgotten.’
Sable smiled. ‘We did it together, you and I.’
‘I wish to tell you something,’ he said, ‘something that I have been holding back until this moment. Blackrose told me that on Dragon Eyre, each dragon has three names, secret names, as well as a name by which they are known to everyone else. Her true name is not Blackrose. I don’t have anything like that, but I did have a name before Sanguino. It was bestowed upon me by the dragon who fathered me, though I now curse him.’
‘What is it?’
‘Badblood.’
Sable smothered her disappointment. She had known that Sanguino had been named something else in his youth, but Badblood sounded like a spiteful name given by an uncaring father. On the other hand, she reflected, it also sounded like a name given to a dangerous, outlaw dragon, and she quite liked that aspect.
‘Badblood,’ she repeated.
‘I used to hate that name,’ he said, ‘but coming from your lips it sounds different. I will allow you to address me by that name when we are flying, or otherwise alone, but you must not tell anyone else.’
‘Alright. Badblood and Sable, saviours of Dragon Eyre; I like it.’
He laughed. ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’
Sable felt the pain from her waist increase. It had been healing well, following an alarming few days after her return with Maddie from Yoneath, but the strain of the flight was making it ache. She could also sense that Badblood’s wings were tiring after so many days of inactivity, but that he was too proud to admit it.
‘Let’s go back,’ she said. ‘The wound in my stomach is getting sore.’
‘Of course, my rider; you need to rest, so that we can fly again tomorrow.’
He started to descend, until they were level with the tallest tombs. Burntskull was peering out at them from Deathfang’s lair, a bemused expression on his face, while other dragons were also watching. The hot vapours swirled up from the rivers of lava beneath them as they soared further down. Sable focussed. It would be their first landing, and it was the part she had been most concerned about, being unable to see his limbs as they extended under his body. The dragon levelled off and hovered for a moment next to the blackened square entrance to their tomb, then edged forwards into the shadows of the cavern. He landed heavily, his claws scrabbling on the stone floor of the tomb, then he brought his wings in.
Sable puffed out her cheeks in relief. Down to their right, Maddie and Millen approached, Millen with a big grin on his face. He was still limping, but had discarded the crutch he had been using for over two months.
‘Were you watching?’ said Sanguino, his voice full of pride.
‘Of course we were, you daft dragon,’ said Maddie. ‘You were great.’
‘How was the harness?’ said Millen.
Sable smiled. ‘I managed not to fall off, didn’t I?’
She unbuckled the strap, and climbed down a ladder made from twisted cords of leather that was fastened to the dragon’s flank. She jumped the last yard to the ground, then regretted it as the pain in her waist peaked for a moment. She clutched her side, grimacing. Maddie came up to her and put an arm over her shoulder.
‘Come and sit down,’ she said.
‘I will stay here,’ said Sanguino, as he turned to face the entrance of the tomb.
Sable glanced at him. He had remained on guard by the opening of the cavern ever since Blackrose had been captured by the Ascendants, in case any of the other dragons tried to evict them from the Catacombs. A bolt of anxiety shot through her as she watched him. If Deathfang and the others used force against him, then there would be only one outcome. She kept her face confident despite
